My first post. I have been browsing here for weeks and picked up much info, but need some help please.

It is time to buy a new car and I have decided upon my first Skoda. My preference is for an Estate/Combi diesel, but with Skoda UK not providing the VAT Free offer on diesel Combi's I just cannot justify paying £3K more over it's petrol counterpart. This makes me wonder whether I really need a Combi and if I should opt for a diesel Twindoor instead?

My details and usage:-

*Family car, wife, 2 kids, dog.

*Low miles, just 6-8K miles per year

*Mostly town driving (inner/outer London)

*Current car is a Renault Megane Estate DCI 130 (which surprisingly has not had a single fault during it's 4 years of life).

My options are:-

#1 Combi 1.8 TSI Elegance @ £20K

#2 Twindoor CR 140 Elegance @ £20K

#3 Twindoor CR 170 Elegance @ £21K

I know that the diesels should offer ~40mpg given my driving conditions vs ~30mpg for the Petrol. This equates to about £400 higher annual fuel bills and £70 higher Road Tax. I believe deprecation should be similar because Combi's hold their value better than Twindoor's, but diesels hold it better than petrol. Hence Petrol Combi vs Diesel Twindoor should be even. Servicing for petrol should be slightly cheaper given my low mileage.

The petrol Twindoor seems like a good option for my, but I have become used to the way diesels drive. Unfortunately the dealer only had diesels to test drive so I am blind regarding the 1.8 TSI unit. I assume it will feel diesel-like to drive due to the turbo and wide spread of torque, but perhaps a bit smoother?

Can anyone offer a recommendation or real world comparison between the TSI and CR engines? Also, other than 30bhp/30Ibs torque, is there any difference between the noise and smoothness of the two diesels?

Edited 7 April, 201313 yr by Orville

With your low mileage...go for a petrol, mate. The 1.8TSI is a fabulous engine. You will not be disappointed.

Firstly welcome to the forum! You're correct in the assumption that the TSI is smoother than the CR, though the CR has virtues of it's own, especially in the 170. To help the other guys who will be able to help more how long are your typical journeys as this will be one of the things that will effect the DPF as like most modern diesels they don't like doing short journeys all the time.

Which ever you choose I'm sure you'll be happy, though personally I think you would be best to test drive a 1.8TSI if at all possible-maybe even in an Octt or Yeti if you can't find a Superb to try.

All the best

Are you looking to buy new?

I went for the 1.8TSi estate. I needed an estate and I do an awful lot of short journeys which are not good for modern diesel engines. Whilst the fuel consumption of the petrol engine is not as good as the diesel, it's wonderfully smooth and has plenty of "get up and go" from unfeasibly low revs. Currently we're in the Alps, and it's my first time with this car. It made short work of the mountain passes.

It's also very smooth and quiet. It's by far the best car we've ever had.

Despite loving my 140CR, if the clear majority of your mileage is at less than 40mph, I'd go for the petrol. Perhaps the twindoor and save a bit?

Stuart

In answer to the questions above, typical journeys will be 3 to 5 miles at mostly sub 30mph, and the car will be a new purchase.

Thanks for your help.

Edited 7 April, 201313 yr by Orville

Petrol so no DPF problems with that mileage and durations.

Petrol estate it is then. Thanks for your comments.

Have to agree with tne commengs above-as much as I love my CR for your needs the TSI is the only choice and the estate is a peach IMO. Enjoy

I hope that you will enjoy your new Superb. We did test a 1.8 TSi estate & it was quite impressive, the 7-speed DSG worked well, all in all a nice package.

So it makes sense that we settled on a 2.0 litre Twindoor..................(Decided to keep my old Mondy Wagon for the days when we need

an a estate.)

Like all the Superbs we tested, it is quiet, relaxing, & a pleasure to drive, probably uses more fuel than a diesel but our annual mileage is low enough for it not to matter.

A sensible family lift-back, just like the Octy vRS TSi ('er indoors, not mine) that shares the garage............

I've been very impressed with all the TSi / TSFi engines that I've experienced so far, flat torque curves, seriously flexible, decent power outputs & good economy.

We're retired, BIK costs & large commuting mileages aren't part of our lives, so we've decided that diesels aren't for us.

Can only agree with what has been said above. Having bought diesels for 20 years, it was a gamble to go back to petrol, but I figured it was just as big a gamble buying into the latest generation of diesels. I was doing a fair bit of 1-2 mile journeys, and knew this would be bad news for a dpf. My driving style is best described as smooth, both in acceleration and braking. (Brake pads on my previous car lasted 70k on the back, 80k on the front). I wanted a relatively new car, with good economy (backed up by independent reviews), and in the end bought a 10 month old unmarked (even the alloys!) 1.4TSi 'S' twin-door. It was direct from Skoda through a franchised dealer, came with dual-zone climate, autolights, spare wheel and jack, and cost me £10.5K. Sure, I could have spent more, and got the 1.8TSi; economy would not have been quite so good, (I've averaged 43mpg in my 5 months and 5K miles of ownership), but the bottom line was my budget was limited (I'm in a stipendiary position), and the car I got has fitted the bill perfectly.

My wife "acquired" my Octavia 2.0tdi estate when I bought my first Superb and it is now 5 years old and only covered 27k miles in total. we usually move them on at 6 to 7 years old and her next car will have to be a petrol since she mainly does short journeys and a newer diesel will come with the compulsory DPF so she will also be ignoring the diesel option. In the old days we bought diesel cars because although they cost more to buy they were also much more desirable second hand.

I wonder if, in a few years time, the remaining non DPF diesel cars which are in nice condition and a low mileage will fetch a premium?, or is that just wishful thinking!

I have decided upon the following spec:-

*Superb Estate 1.8 TSI Elegance

*Black Leather (kids are very messy)

*Park Assist (gift for the wife :love:).

I am open to colour choice so hopefully this will speed up delivery. Will go to the dealers Thurs/Friday to finalise the order.

After test driving a DSG CR 170 I have decided to stay with manual transmission. The DSG was very very nice and I was almost completely sold on it, but for one hiccup. Pulling onto the A12 into traffic I put my foot down and the front wheels just spun and I went nowhere. It felt very cumbersome having to come off of the accelerator and wait for traction before slowly pulling into busy 60mph traffic and then having to floor it. In a manual I would have been able to balance the clutch/accelerator much easier, but probably it was just my lack of familiarity with DSG or the fat 225/18"ers providing little grip in damp conditions. The last Auto I drove was a BMW 325i 20 years ago, and DSG has moved a long way forward since then. Very nice, but not for me.

My wife absolutely does not want a Skoda. Like me she was brought up on 70's and 80's Skoda jokes, but it is hard to change her peception. When we were in the showroom she said that she couldn't believe I was going to spend more than £20K on a Skoda, and that she would not be prepared to push it everywhere. After years of making concessions I am putting my foot down, I want it, so tuff luck! She did concede that it looked rather nice apart from the badge... She want's an A4 instead .

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Orville

My wife absolutely does not want a Skoda. Like me she was brought up on 70's and 80's Skoda jokes, but it is hard to change her peception. When we were in the showroom she said that she couldn't believe I was going to spend more than £20K on a Skoda, and that she would not be prepared to push it everywhere. After years of making concessions I am putting my foot down, I want it, so tuff luck! She did concede that it looked rather nice apart from the badge... She want's an A4 instead .

Sometimes, our response to those old Skoda jokes is "but look how far they've come!" In truth, we should take folks back, and show them the original Skoda Superb. One of Europe's luxury cars, in it's day!

After test driving a DSG CR 170 I have decided to stay with manual transmission. The DSG was very very nice and I was almost completely sold on it, but for one hiccup. Pulling onto the A12 into traffic I put my foot down and the front wheels just spun and I went nowhere. It felt very cumbersome having to come off of the accelerator and wait for traction before slowly pulling into busy 60mph traffic and then having to floor it. In a manual I would have been able to balance the clutch/accelerator much easier, but probably it was just my lack of familiarity with DSG or the fat 225/18"ers providing little grip in damp conditions. The last Auto I drove was a BMW 325i 20 years ago, and DSG has moved a long way forward since then. Very nice, but not for me.

My wife absolutely does not want a Skoda. Like me she was brought up on 70's and 80's Skoda jokes, but it is hard to change her peception. When we were in the showroom she said that she couldn't believe I was going to spend more than £20K on a Skoda, and that she would not be prepared to push it everywhere. After years of making concessions I am putting my foot down, I want it, so tuff luck! She did concede that it looked rather nice apart from the badge... She want's an A4 instead .

Automatics - even new ones - scare the c--p out of me for the very reason you stated. So like you I'm a fan of manuals.

I came to our Superb from an Audi A4. The Avant's boot is tiny compared to the Superb and the saloon just isn't practical for kids stuff (particularly when they're little and you need to get buggies in).

So I think you've made the right choice. Did your wife actually test-drive the car? It's not at all 'cheap' in look or feel, or in how it drives. Suggest you go on the Audi site and price up an A6 - which is a fairer comparison than an A4 to be honest - with all the kit you get on a Superb and see what change you get out of £40000. Not much, I can assure you.

I have to say, I was a bit apprehensive about Skoda myself, but the car has been great and for price can't be beaten. If I win the lottery then I might possibly be tempted to go back to Audi for an A6, but until then I'm happy knowing I have £20000 extra in the bank and a very practical, comfortable, well-specced car to drive.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Yearofthegoat

I think you have just got to learn how to drive an automatic. I changed from manual many years back (an `H` reg Ford Granada) and have never wanted to return. I have had many different automatic cars and once I had learnt how they drive (a matter of days) then all was fine and dandy. I will never go back to a manual car. "Each to his own", as they say.

We've the combi in brilliant metallic silver, great colour and really sparkles (only choice we didn't want was white, as we'd always be getting flagged down for a fare). I was brought up to joke at Skodas, Protons, etc... But after being in several Superb IIs over the last two years have really fallen for them. Great build quality and the extras you get as standard is oustanding. Hope you enjoy it and the wife will come round very soon.

I think you have just got to learn how to drive an automatic.

Thanks for that!

Some years ago I had a Ford Sierra automatic (£400 banger on an old D plate), for about 18 months or so, and you're right it does take some getting used to. You have to anticipate the delay between pressing the accelerator and the car moving off and time your exit at junctions accordingly. I recently drove a Superb DSG and an Audi A4 auto and was disappointed that this lag was still there on these modern automatics.

My wife absolutely does not want a Skoda. Like me she was brought up on 70's and 80's Skoda jokes, but it is hard to change her peception. When we were in the showroom she said that she couldn't believe I was going to spend more than £20K on a Skoda, and that she would not be prepared to push it everywhere. After years of making concessions I am putting my foot down, I want it, so tuff luck! She did concede that it looked rather nice apart from the badge... She want's an A4 instead .

Get rid of the wife.

Would be interested to know if you manage to order what you want. I couldn't - they aren't taking new orders at present except for what is already scheduled to be built. There seem to be very few 1.8 TSI's available

Get rid of the wife.

This is desireable but sadly not very economical.

Regarding the DSG box, I don't think I could live with having to pull onto roundabouts and out of junctions into small gaps / fast moving traffic without having confidence in grip levels (control over both clutch and accelerator). With a manual I can dip the clutch a bit when the wheels chip, solving the problem instantly and maintaining acceleration. With the DSG I have to go slower, wait for bigger gaps, or risk a mini bunny hop when I lift my foot off the fast pedal and then press it down again. The DSG may well change up and down gears 20x as fast as I can, but there is much more delay when pressing or depressing the go-faster pedal, especially when it controls the clutch and is trying to work out what the driver wants. This is just my opinion based upon a single 40 minute drive, but first impressions are hard to ignore. I am sure anyone could learn to drive around this percieved limitation, but it may niggle at me and I don't wan't to risk that with a new car. Call me old fashioned.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Orville

Would be interested to know if you manage to order what you want. I couldn't - they aren't taking new orders at present except for what is already scheduled to be built. There seem to be very few 1.8 TSI's available

I have just spoken with my dealer, who having checked the order system says 12-13 weeks for a freshly build Steel Grey 1.8 TSI combi with Park Assist. I specifically asked her to check whether new builds for the "current model" were taking place.

Edited 8 April, 201313 yr by Orville

My wife also had this perception of Skodas, but is now absolutely sold......comfortable, quiet and easy to drive. My children don't know what all the fuss is about because they've grown up with Skoda just being a VW brand. I still remember when the Octavia was about to be launched, and one of the TV programmes (might have been old Top Gear) asked people what they thought of it with all the badges covered up. Often they thought it was an Audi. The Superb is a bargain - it doesn't feel cheap, works well but is a bargain. Honest John's (Telegraph columnist amongst other things) has web site which rates the Superb as the top estate above all others

http://www.honestjoh...en-estate-cars/

A certain Audi A4 comes 7th, Audi A6, 3rd.

Regarding autos, one does need to lean how to control them; not something one will "get" in a 40 min test drive, but I'm confident that you would get used to it. I'd rather have the ability to spin the wheels than not have enough oomph! I still recall pool 1.3 auto Marinas in the '80. You'd floor the throttle and it would think about setting of a couple of seconds later!

All that said I bought a manual. This, too, takes getting used to. The 1.8 engine is sooooooo quiet that you can't easily hear the biting point and it's so smooth you don't feel it much either. But I rapidly got used to it!

I have just spoken with my dealer, who having checked the order system says 12-13 weeks for a freshly build Steel Grey 1.8 TSI combi with Park Assist. I specifically asked her to check whether new builds for the "current model" were taking place.

Must have already been one in the system then, as I've now had three different dealers telling me they can't take orders for the pre-FL model and will be taking orders for the FL model 'shortly'.